Door hinge and check.



Patented May 16, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

iiNiTnD STATES iniiiiivi oFFioE.

CALVIN KEITH, or MANSFIRLD, oiiio, AssiGNoR To cHARLEs v. BERRY, or MANS- riRLn, oi-iio.

DOOR HINGE .AND CHECK.

Tall whom t may concern.'

Be it'known that I, CALVIN Kiiiirna citizen of the United States, residing at Mansfield, in the county of Richland and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and use-l the size and lessen the cost cfa combined spring actuated hinge and door check.

A further purposeof the invention is to provide-simple, compact means whereby a door may be easily and quickly placed in position or removed therefromV without the use of tools, thedoor being set at any desired position with relation toits frame.

The invention further contemplates actuating and supporting means whereby when the door is removed to any of its various positions, except at ninety degrees to its predetermined closed position, it will be automatically returned to its closed position. The actuating and checking mechanisms are provided with suitable means to permit of their adjustment without removing the door from its operative position, and all ofthe parts are protected from dirt, dust and weather. `The weight of the door is borne by a part of the hinge engaging floor plate, or by the resilient member supported abo-ve said part of the hinge, while oil or Y other suitable liquid is used in the casing both as a liquid check and as a lubricant.

An embodiment of the invention is illustratedin the accompanying drawings, but it is to be understood that the constructions shown are for the purposes of illustration onl 1 -ii the drawingsf-Figure 1 isa vertical sectional view through the device applied to a door. Fig. 2 is an end view/of thedoor showing the adjusting means. Fig. k3 is a horizontal section taken through the casing showing the means to adjust thelbifurcated end of the movable camblock. Fig. i isa bottom plan view of the weight supporting .y Specification of Letters Patent.

VPatented May 16, i916.

Application led January 27, 179175. Serial No. 4,726.

of` the clamp of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a partial plan* view of the floor plate. Fig. 8 is a partial edge view of the floor plate showing a dependingA tapered section. Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the casing. with the cam blocks engaged at the apex, .indicating that the door is moved t0 a position substantially ninety degreesV to that shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 10 is an enlarg'ecilVV l vertical sectional view through the wall of the casingy disclosingV another embodiment of the liquid controlled rotatable valve. Fig: 11 is an enlarged detail view partly in section of the coacting cams inthe position shownin Fig. 9. Fig. 12 is an Yenlarged detail view of a part of theV reciprocating cam disclosing a rectangular slotfin its surface to be engaged by the rotatable valve member of Fig. r10. Fig. 13 is a detail kview of lthe binding nut which coperates with tatable valve of Fig. 10, and-Fig. 15 Vis an enlarged detail view of the lower cam block.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings, there is shown a floor plate 1 which may be provided with a tapered rectangular opening-2 such as shown in Fig. 9, or may be provided with a depending tapered lug engaging member 3, such as is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. This ioor plate is adapted to'be secured to the stationary base or ioor in any suitable manner.

A casing for the spring actuated mechanism is secured to and partially concealed within the door, in which the door `plate 4 is shown connected with a tubular casing 5.

VThis casing is shown providedwith a longitudinal lug 6 within which vmay -be placed a plurality of adjustingmembers to'be here` inafter referred to.

Within the casingis vprovided a plurality of cam blocks 7, 8,` each provided with a spiral engaging surface 9 and a flattened apex 10, so that the engaging 'ends of these oppositely positioned cam blocks 7, 8 appear as bifurcated members, as will be understood from an inspection of Fig. 15. vWhen the cam blocks are at their rest position, as shown in Fig. 1, the flattened apeX 10 of one block, is adapted to rest in the slot 11 of the other member. The lower cam block 8 is provided with a shoulder 12 adapted to engage the lower plate, such as 4 of the tubu- Yso ythe'packing at the base of thecasing. Fig. 1 14 is a detail perspective view of the rowell centrally disposed, indicated at 22,v

the door plate 4 and the lower surface ofV the door, as will be understood from Fig. 1, and to be engaged by a supporting clamp 14.

The clamp 14 is shown more clearly in Figs. 4, 5 and 6, wherein the supporting member 14 is provided with a central'aperture 15 and a plurality of oppositely positioned arms 16 adapted to be moved by an adjusting member or screw 17, to cause the member 14 to frictionally engage the post 13 and thereby Aprevent movement 0f the post.

The lower face of this supporting clamp is shown provided with the tapered depending -lug 18.7.which is adapted to fit within the rectangular opening 2 of the floor plate 1, or the depending angular retaining member 3 of the `floor plate illustrated in Figs. 1 and 8. rlfhe cam block 8 maybe provided with a piston .ring 19, if desired, and a suitable packing 20 may be employed around the post 13, which packing is retained in position by abinding nut 21. As shown in Fig. 9,the member 8 may be provided also with a which is 'adapted to receive the sediment which may be deposited within the casing from the liquid rchecking and lubricating casing.

*the device. Y

substance which is adapted to be usedY with The upper cam block 7 is provided with an elongated stem shown bifurcated'to `providethe arms 23 which are adapted to `be held together by an adjusting screw 24, this cam block being prevented from rotative movement by means of a key 25 positioned in a slot Yformed between the members 23. The key 25 is secured to the easing in any suitable manner, andV permitsof reciprocating movement of the block 7 within` said At the bifurcated end of the cam blockr7 there may be positioned a suitable resilient element such asa helical spring 26, to exert energy against the cam block and force it to the positionshown in Fig. 1. The

'upper end of the casing is internally threaded for a considerable distance, and adapted to be closed by a plug 27which serves also as means to increase the tension Vofthe resilient element 26. lIt is desired torhavevthe cam blocks 7 and 8,fit`the casing' comparatively snugly, the upper block 7 acting as a piston to'act upon a liquid check to bel containedV in the casing. The liquid, such as lubricating oil, may be lpoured into the casing, after the parts shallhave been assem? bled by removing a feed screw 28 which is shown positioned within the tension inclosing end 27. f

The cam block 7 may be provided with the central opening 29 (Fig. 9), which opening is ofsuilicient diameter to permit the liquid checking substance to pass from the reservoir portion 30 of the casing, through the cam' block 7, to the-space 31 which will be formed between the meeting faces of the cam blocks 7 and 8 when moved to the position illustrated in Figs. 9 and 11, filling such space. On the outer surface of the cam block 7 there may be provided an elongated channel 32 toy permit the liquid checking substance to be forced from the space 31 through said channel, back to the reservoir 30 when the coacting cam blocks 7 and 8 are returned to the position illustrated in Fig. 1. It will be understood that the liquid substance will be prevented from returning through the passage 29 by a suitable valve, such as a bail valve 33.

In Fig. 11 the passage 29 is shown of different diameters to accommodate the bail 33, and-serve as a stop or valve to the 'upward passage of theliquid, the ball being retained in position by a suitable device such as a pin 34.y Y

rIhe groove 32 may be a V-shaped groove in cross section, as illustrated in Fig. 9, and provided with the screw 35 having a cone shaped engaging face to contact with the V-shaped groove 32, whereby the passage of liquid checking substances from the space 31 to the reservoir 30, maybe controlled to regulate the return movement of the door to its predetermined position.

In another embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. 10, 12 and 14, there is shown a substantially rectangular groove 36 in lieu of the Vshaped groove of Fig. 9, and with this groove 36 coperates a rotatable member shown in Figs. 10 and 14 as having a stem 37, a groove engaging end 38 having a iattened tapered point, and a peripheral shoulder 39. rFhis rotatable valve member 37 may be provided with a suitable packing 40, and retained in position by a 'binding nut 41, whereby the liquid checking substance may be prevented from leaking aroundrthe adjusting element. Moreover, this adjusting element 37 maybe turned a quarter turn to permit the full passage of fluid through the channel 36, or a quarter cut off the passage of fluid through said channel, while a slight movementin eitherr of the othery directions will permit of the desired passage of iiuid to control the move ment of thel door. Y Y y The packing 20 at the lower end of the casing is designed to prevent the leakage of the checking lubricant from'the casing past the post 13, this packing being retained wedged against the post by the tapered seat 42 of the binding nut 21 at the lower end of the casing. p

vIt may be found desirable also, to cut away a portion of the retaining key 25, as atf43, to permit the cam block to move to yAie its lowest position with relation tothe cam block 8. After the device has been in operation, the key 25 may not snugly fit the space between the arms 23 of the cam block 7, whereupon, access may be had to the casing through the aperture 44 in the longitudinal lug 6, by removing the plug from said aperture, whereupon the screw 24 may be rotated to draw the arms 23 closer together into contact with the key 25.

ln operation, a door provided with the check may be moved to a position so that the tapered lug of the clamping member 14 will register with the ta )ered o Jenin@ 2 of the e l l e {ioor plate 1, whereupon the door may be moved to its vertical position and locked in such position by any suitable means at the top thereof such as a bolt 46 engaging with the keeper in the door frame. The door will therefore, be pivotally mounted by the clamp 14 and post 13, whereupon the door may be moved to the position in which it ris desired to have it returned afterr having been opened. lThe binding element or screw 17 may now be rotated to'tighten the arm 16 into frictional engagement with the post 13 and prevent movement of the cam block. In this position it will be understood that the casing 5 will rotate around the cam block S, while the peculiar formation of the engaging surfaces 9 of the cam blocks will operate to reciprocate the vupper camblock 7 in the casing, the key 25 preventing rotative movement of the upper 'block 7. On the upward movement of the camblock 7, the resilient elementrQ will be placed under compression, and the liquid substance, such as lubricating oil indicated at 47, will be permitted to pass down through the channel 29, past the valve 33 to the space 31 between the cani blocks 7 and 8. 1f the door is moved to a position substantially ninety degrees from that to which it has been set to return, the cam blocks will. assume the position illustrated in Fig. 9, and hold the doorin its opened position. By moving the door slightly so `that the ends 10 of the cam blocks 7 and 8 are out of the abutting engagement, illustrated in Fig. 11, the spiral engaging faces 9 will ride upon each other under the impulse of the resilient element 26, to return the cam block 7 to the position shown in Fig. 1, in engagement with thecam block 8. As .the liquid checking and lubricating substance has been permitted to vflow into tlie space 31 between said cam blocks, it will be displaced from said Vspace,

through the groove 32 or 36. to be returned to the reservoir 30 in the casing,` this return of the fluid to the reservoir can be controlled by the elements 35 or 37 operating in the grooves 32 or 36, and the adjustment of the elements 35 or 37 in the grooves will regulate the closing movement of the door.

An important feature of this construction l resides in the fact that the door may be quickly returned from its opened. to its closed position by manual effort, without disarranging the checking mechanism, the liquid checking and lubricating substance Flowing normally through the channels 32- 36 after the door shall have been pushed to its closed position. -f

The adjustment of the checking substance, orthe arms 23 of the upper cam block, may be effected without removing the casing 5 from the door, by simply rotating the door on its pivots 13 and 46 until the adjusting means 35-45 are exposed to view.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A spring` hinge for doors comprising a floor plate, a plurality of blocks having coacting` cam surfaces, one of which is provided with a depending member, and a supporting. member adapted to be adjustably mounted on said depending member and'to be positioned within. the floor plate, ther other of said cam blocks being spring actuated and connected with the door. 2. A spring hinge for doors comprising a stationary base, a plurality of coacting cam blocks, each provided with a substantially arcuate engaging surface, said blocks cooperating to return the door to its closed position, and provided also with a flattened apex to retain the door against'movement when in its opened position, one of `said cams being adjustably connected with a stationary base, the other of said cams being spring actuated and adapted to have reciprocating movement simultaneously with the i swinging movement of a door.

3. In a device of the kclass described, a

door check comprising a floor plate, a casing, a plurality of coacting cam blocks' positioned therein, one of which is provided with an extension for adjustable connection with the floor plate to cause the movement'of the door to separate said cam blocks, means to admit liquid to said easing at the upper end to'fiow through one of said cam blocks between the blocks, said cani block having a groove for the passage of liquid from between the cam blocks to a space above said blocks, a passage through said grooved block, and a ball check valve controlling the passage of liquid throughsaid block. Y

4. A door check and closer comprising a substantially tubular casing having a'threaded closer for one end, which closer .is provided with removable meansL to permit the casing to be supplied with a checking fluid,

a plurality of coacti'ng cam blocks inovably A positioned within the casing, said cam blocks having resilient means to retain them in a predetermined position, one of said blocks being capable of rotary movement" and the otherV capable of reciprocating movement,

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the reciprocating block being positioned nearest kthe fluid supply end of the casing and provided with a check valve to permit fluid to flow from a space above said block to a space below the block, when the door is in its opened position, a valved by-pass formed on said reciprocating block to control the passage of fluid from between said blocks to that part of the casing above the reciprocating block when the blocks are moved to the closed position of a door, and means exterior' of the door to firmly secure one of said cam blocks against movement to thereby permit the casingrto have rotative movement around said cam block.

5. In a .device of the class described, a door check comprising a casing, a plurality of coacting cam blocks positioned therein, one of which is adapted to be reciprocated s imultaneously withthe swinging movement of a door, means carried by said casing to guide the cam block in its reciprocating movements, means to admit liquid to said casing, means to permit liquid to pass from between said cam blocks to a space above one of said cam blocks, means to pass liquid through one of' saidV cam blocks, a valve controlling the passage of liquid through said block, and a rotatable knife-edged valve positioned in said casing to engage means on one of said cam blocks to control the passage of' liquid from between said cam blocks to the space in the casing above said Vcam blocks.

6. A door check and closer comprising a substantially tubular casing adapted to be positioned within a door, a plurality of coacting cam blocks, one of which is capable of rotatable movement with relation to the Vcasing and provided with a section which extends beyond the casing, the other block being capable of reciprocating move-ment within the casing and having a bifurcated portion, a key carried by the casing to guide the reciprocating block in its movements,

and means to maintain thebifurcated end of the 'block in a predetermined position to prevent rotative movement of the block with relation to the key.

c 7. A door check and closer comprising a substantiallyv tubularcasing adapted to be positioned within the plane of a door, said casing being provided with a housing lug, a plurality of cam blocks mounted within the casing and maintained in a predetermined position by a resilient member, means tosupply fluid to said casing to be acted upon by said cam blocks, one of said blocks being Vprovided with means to permit vfluid to flow between the blocks when the door is moved to its open position and with a rectangular by-pass to permit the fluid to ybe forced from between theblocks as the door is moved toits closed position by theresilient member, and a knife-edged :rota-v table valve in said housing lug to coperate with the by-pass to control the passage of fluid through the by-pass.

S. In a door check and closer, a casing serving as a fluid check reservoir and having a plurality of cam blocks, resilient means to engage one of said blocks, said block being provided with a channel serving as a by-pass, and a rotatable valve positioned within the casing to control the passage of fluid through said by-pass, said valve having a frictional guidingv disk on its stem which cooperates with means to lock the Avalve in position on the casing, and means against movement, the other of said cam blocks being capable of reciprocating movement, means rigid with the casing to guide themovable vcam block, resilient means in said casing to engage the movable cam block, and means whereby the movable cam block willact as a piston in said casing against the fluid lubricant to check the pivotal movement of a door. Y

10. A device of the class described com- 'prising a casing, a plurality of coacting cam blocks, one of said blocks being capable of reciprocating movement in said casing, a resilient element adapted tobe placed under compression by said movable block and a key extending through the reciprocating cam block yto prevent rotative movement of said blockwith relation to said casing.

11. A device of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of coacting cam blocks, one of said blocks being capable of reciprocating movement insaid casing and provided with a bifurca'ted stem, a key` secured to said casing and adapted to be positioned between the bifurcated members of the stem to prevent rotative movement of the cam block in the casing, and means to actuate said cam block by movement of the door.

12. 'A device of the class described comprising a casing, a plurality of coacting cam blocks, one of said blocks being capable of reciprocating movement in said casing, and provided with a bifurcated stem, a key secured to said casing and adapted to be positioned between the bifurcated members of the stem to prevent rotative movement of the cam block in the casing, adjusting means connecting said bifurcated members, and means to actuate said cam block by movement of the door.

e ing a rectangular Vsection adaptedy to be y the post seated in astationary element, to prevent turning movement of the clamp, said clamp having adjustable connection `with said post whereby a door may be mounted at a desired position with relation to a stationary element.

14. In a device of the class described, a combined spring actuated hinge and check having a protruding pivotal post, a supporting clamp to surround and be secured to said post, and a floor plate adapted to retain said clampY and post against movement.

15. In a device of the class described, a combined spring actuated hinge and check having a protruding pivotal post, a -loor plate, a supporting clamp adapted to be seated in said plate, said clamp having a central aperture for said post, a plurality of arms, and means to contract the-arms around said post to prevent `rotative movement of plate. Y

`16. In a device of the class described, a combined spring actuated hinge and check Y having a protruding post, a Yioror plate having a tapered recess, and a supporting clamp having a tapered lug adapted to be seated in the recess of the ioor plate, said clamp' havwith relation to the clamp and floorrality of arms and means to contract the arms around said post, whereby after the door has been moved to its adjusted position the supporting clamp may be contracted around said post to prevent rotative movement of the post and Ycause the door to return to its initial position.

17 A spring hinge for doors comprising a stationary base, a plurality of coacting cam blocks each provided with a substantially spiralengaging surface anda iattened apex, one of said cam blocks being connected with the stationary base,the other of said cam blocks being spring actuated and adapted to have reciprocating movement simultaneously with the swinging of a door, and a liquid checking substance adapted to coperate with said cam blocks, whereby when the door is moved to a position substantially ninety degrees to its predeter- V ing a central aperture for said post, a plumined position, the blocks will engage each otherl at the flattened apeXes to retain the door in its opened position, said iuid checking substance limiting the closing action of the door when underV the impulse of the.y

spring actuated cam and permitting manual closing of the door irrespective of the action of said liquid check.

In testimony whereof, I aiX my `signature, in' presence of two witnesses.`

Witnesses:

MAE ScHRAoK, C. V. BERRY.

' oaLvrN KEITH.

Y Genies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, 'by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

